Insights from Spaceful x HubStar Executive Roundtable

On 19 February 2026, Spaceful partnered with HubStar to host a Forefront executive roundtable at Rockpool Bar & Grill in Sydney. The session, facilitated by Spaceful’s Workplace Strategy Director, James Bleakman and Design Director, Michael Spinoglio, brought together senior leaders from across property, people and culture, workplaces and operations. Attendees represented organisations such as Aon, PwC, Publicis and Woolworths Group.

The discussion focused on a central question: How do today’s workplaces keep pace with the shifting needs of a modern workforce?

Participants identified several recurring challenges that continue to limit performance, collaboration and the employee experience:

• Capacity and scaling misalignment: Many organisations are struggling with layouts that cannot flex with changing patterns of use. There is growing pressure on Town Hall sized spaces for internal events, while meeting rooms become scarce during peak mid‑week attendance.
• Infrastructure and technology friction: Outdated or inconsistent AV and unreliable IT setups remain a major barrier. Several leaders noted that the home environment often outperforms their current office in terms of technical reliability, undermining confidence in working on-site.
• Unpredictable growth patterns: Unplanned desk growth, fluctuating occupancy and ad-hoc behaviour create operational challenges. Without accurate real-time data, facilities teams are forced into reactive rather than strategic problem-solving.
• The employee value proposition: Return to office expectations remain difficult to enforce. Leaders agreed that unless the workplace offers better amenities, stronger connection, or purpose-built environments, employees favour the comfort and control of home.

The group also explored the integration of AI into the workplace. Key insights included:

• Operational efficiency: AI is being adopted to improve analytical capability, automate repetitive tasks and support faster decision making. Several leaders noted AI initiatives are now tied directly to FY objectives.
• Risk mitigation: Despite its benefits, executives emphasised the need for oversight. AI outputs require quality checks and there is growing concern about over-reliance, particularly where accuracy has critical implications for businesses.
• Future space requirements: As AI reshapes team structures and task distribution, participants expect workplace needs to shift. With more individual work becoming automated, physical environments may need to focus even more on high-value collaboration, problem solving and relationship building.

Reflecting on the discussion, Spaceful’s Workplace Strategy Director James Bleakman said:

“What we heard today reinforces what we see every day: organisations are navigating constant change in behaviours, technology, leadership expectations and workforce needs. The modern workplace must move beyond static real estate. Success lies in breaking down the barriers to data-driven optimisation, turning workplace analytics into actionable insights that align space, technology, and business priorities.”